After narrowly escaping the throngs of adoring students under the influence of his accidental love potion, Elyas hoped he'd finally found sanctuary back in his dorm room. The ordeal had left him exhausted and frazzled, with his hair sticking out in all directions and his clothes slightly askew. What he needed was a quiet moment to think—if such a thing existed in his life.
He burst through the door to find a scene that made his blood run cold.
Marlowe was kneeling dramatically at the foot of Kellen's bed, gazing up with starry-eyed adoration. He was reciting a heartfelt poem about Elyas, complete with elaborate hand gestures and a voice that sounded like he was auditioning for a role in a tragic romance play.
Marlowe (with an exaggerated sigh): "For you, Elyas, the light in my dark sky, the star that guides me through this dreary existence! How I long to be near you, to bask in the radiance of your... well, you get the idea."
Kellen, on the other hand, appeared utterly unperturbed. He sat on his bed, reading a book with an expression that suggested he was enjoying a particularly dull chapter of an otherwise thrilling novel.
Kellen (dryly, without looking up): "You've already read that one three times, Marlowe. Maybe give him a break before he starts thinking you're trying to serenade him into a coma."
Elyas, momentarily stunned by the sheer absurdity of the situation, stood there with his mouth slightly open. Marlowe, however, was undeterred. As soon as Elyas made eye contact, Marlowe sprang up with the grace of a ballet dancer and rushed over to his side, grabbing both of his hands in a vice-like grip.
Marlowe (with fervor): "Elyas, my muse, you simply must let me compose a symphony for you! A song that will echo through the halls of Arcanis for generations to come! It will be the soundtrack of your life!"
Elyas tried to pull his hands away, but Marlowe's grip was surprisingly firm. His face was turning an alarming shade of red as he stammered.
Elyas (nervously): "Marlowe, please. I'm really not... into... I mean, I don't..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Kellen looked up from his book with a smirk that was pure mischief.
Kellen (mockingly): "Maybe you should take him up on the offer. A symphony might not be so bad. You could use a little background music to highlight your daily mishaps."
Marlowe, blissfully unaware of Elyas's growing discomfort, mistook his hesitation for modesty. He threw himself onto the floor, clutching his chest dramatically.
Marlowe (with a dramatic gasp): "Fear not, Elyas! Your shyness only makes you more enchanting! Let me compose a ballad that will capture your beauty for all eternity!"
Elyas, now thoroughly overwhelmed and desperate to escape, turned to look at Kellen with pleading eyes. Kellen's smirk widened, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Before Elyas could say anything else, the door flew open with a crash, and Seraphina stormed in, her umbrella dripping wet from the rain. She had the look of someone who had just run a marathon.
Seraphina (exasperated): "Elyas, what did you do this time? Half the academy is chasing after you like lovesick puppies!"
Elyas turned to her, eyes wide with relief.
Elyas (frantically): "I didn't do anything! Well, not this time! It was the love potion, I swear!"
Seraphina looked around at the scene before her. Marlowe was still kneeling dramatically on the floor, while Kellen had now taken to observing the situation with an amused expression.
Seraphina (raising an eyebrow): "And I see Marlowe's still at it. Fantastic."
Marlowe, still on the floor and looking up with a hopeful expression, declared, "Seraphina, help me convince Elyas to accept my symphony!"
Seraphina rolled her eyes and walked over to Elyas, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.
Seraphina (whispering): "Look, Elyas, you need to get out of here before Marlowe serenades you into a deeper state of permanent embarrassment. I've got a plan."
Elyas, clearly still in shock, nodded vigorously. "Anything! Just get me out of here!"
With that, Seraphina took Elyas by the arm and started dragging him toward the door. Elyas glanced back at Marlowe and Kellen with a mix of panic and gratitude.
Marlowe (calling after them): "But Elyas, my love! Don't you want to hear my ode to your unparalleled beauty?"
Seraphina shot him a withering look as she ushered Elyas out the door.
Seraphina (firmly): "Marlowe, Elyas is not your muse, and he definitely does not need a symphony right now. Besides, you're better off composing a song for your own sanity."
As they made their way down the hallway, Elyas tried to catch his breath. The academy was in full swing, students buzzing about their own daily drama. Elyas was about to ask Seraphina how she planned to help him when she suddenly halted.
Seraphina (smirking): "Okay, here's the plan. We're going to sneak into the potion lab, find the antidote for the love potion, and get it distributed before anyone else falls under the spell."
Elyas (nervously): "And how are we going to do that without getting caught?"
Seraphina (grinning): "Easy. We'll use a little bit of misdirection. And if anyone asks, just remember: you're an innocent bystander in this mess."
Elyas nodded, feeling a bit more confident. They made their way to the potion lab, ducking into shadows and avoiding eye contact with anyone who looked like they might be under the love potion's influence.
Inside the lab, Seraphina began rummaging through shelves, pulling out various ingredients and muttering to herself. Elyas watched with growing admiration. Seraphina had a way of making chaos look like an art form.
Seraphina (concentrating): "We need to find the antidote quickly. If we don't, this could get a lot worse."
As she worked, Elyas couldn't help but think that despite all the chaos and awkward encounters, Seraphina's straightforward approach was exactly what he needed.
Seraphina (handing him a vial): "Here, take this. It's the antidote. Just make sure you distribute it to everyone who's affected. It should neutralize the love potion's effects."
Elyas took the vial, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. "Thanks, Seraphina. You're a lifesaver."
Seraphina (with a playful wink): "Just don't get yourself into any more trouble, okay? Or at least, try to make it less dramatic next time."
With the antidote in hand, Elyas and Seraphina made their way back through the academy, distributing the antidote to the students who had been chasing him. Each time he handed someone the vial, there was a mixture of confusion and relief as the love potion's effects wore off.
By the time they had finished, the academy was buzzing with gossip about the mysterious antidote and the strange events of the day. Elyas, now relieved and somewhat exhausted, returned to his dorm room, ready to collapse.
As he walked in, Kellen looked up from his book with a raised eyebrow.
Kellen (dryly): "So, how'd it go? Did you survive the love triangle?"
Elyas collapsed onto his bed with a groan.
Elyas (weary): "Let's just say I'm never touching another potion as long as I live."
Kellen chuckled, shaking his head.
Kellen: "Good call. And if Marlowe shows up with another symphony, just lock the door."
Elyas managed a weak smile. "Deal."
As he lay there, exhausted but safe, he couldn't help but think that, somehow, despite all the magical mishaps and love-struck followers, life at Arcanis Academy was starting to feel like a crazy adventure. And maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to find his place—if only he could survive the next unexpected twist.